File a Tax Appeal

Yes, you can send exhibits via U.S. mail or express mail even if you file the petition electronically over the Internet. Please indicate in the Issues and Arguments section of your electronic petition that you plan to send some of the exhibits separately via U.S. mail. This will help the examiner when processing your petition.

A taxpayer filing an appeal may appear on his own behalf or be represented by someone else with the required technical knowledge. There is no requirement that the petitioner be represented by an accountant, attorney or other representative.

However, a petitioner's representative must be authorized in writing to represent the petitioner before the Board of Appeals.

The Board of Appeals will review evidence submitted and conduct hearings, as necessary, to decide the merits of the petitioner's appeal. It is important to note that the burden of proof shall be with the petitioner on all issues except fraud.

1. All businesses and representatives are required to electronically submit all supporting evidence and documents (Examples: power of attorney, copies of legal documents, appeal schedules, proof of payment) in a form and manner as required by the Board.
2. All other individuals without representation (pro se) are requested to submit all supporting evidence and documents electronically in a form and manner as required by the Board.
3. The above shall not apply to claims for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

A petitioner may request a compromise of an appeal by submitting a Request for Compromise (DBA-10)​ with the petition for appeal or as soon as possible after the petition is filed. 

Your Notice of Assessment specifies the time in which an appeal must be filed with the Board of Appeals. Petitions for refund must be filed within the timeframe provided by the statute governing the tax requested for refund.

Petitions are considered timely filed if received by the board or postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or prior to the final day prescribed for filing.

Hearings before the Board are scheduled at the petitioner's request or as required by the Board. Hearings will be conducted by a member of the Board or by a designated hearing officer. In corporation tax and cigarette tax hearings, a representative of the Department of the Auditor General may be in attendance.

Hearings are informal, and it is not necessary to have professional representation. However, witnesses will give testimony under oath, and the proceedings may be recorded as part of the record. Adequate pre-hearing preparation will expedite the proceedings.

All hearings will be held virtually and will be digitally recorded. The petitioner will receive an electronic invitation from the hearing officer to join the hearing. The petitioner always has the option to waive the hearing and request that the decision be based on the record.

Hearings may be postponed, but a request for continuance must be made in writing and received by the Board five business days prior to the scheduled hearing date. Such requests will be granted at the discretion of the Board.

Yes, the Board will issue a written decision that may include findings of fact and discussion of law.

If the petitioner has an email address of record, the Board will continue to issue orders electronically through email. If petitioners plan to appeal the Board’s order to the Board of Finance and Revenue, petitioners are advised to review notices issued by the Board of Finance and Revenue regarding its operations while teleworking.

Find further information on the Board of Finance and Revenue website.

For all taxes, if you disagree with the Board’s order, an appeal may be filed with the Board of Finance and Revenue.

If you disagree with the Board’s order regarding an assessment of inheritance tax that does not involve a refund of tax, an appeal may be filed with the Court of Common Pleas, Orphans’ Court Division. Compromise orders may not be appealed.

Rules governing appeals to the Board of Finance and Revenue should be consulted, particularly with respect to deadlines for timely filing.